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small bronze wall-mounted shield with olive wreath symbol of achievement
£95.00
This shield is decorated with a central wreath of olive, circled by a band of the geometric meander pattern 'meandros' (or greek key design). The olive was associated with the goddess Athena and represented achievement and the meandros symbolised infinity and unity, also thought to represent the labyrinth or maze, and the eternal quest for truth. Based on the ancient Greek shield, the aspis or hoplon would originally have been made from wood covered in bronze. Measuring approximately 1m in diameter it would not only have protected the bearer, but formed part of the phalanx, the formidable military formation!
dimensions: Diameter of the shield: 13cm Depth to wall: 3cm
quantity
about the olive
The olive was the symbol of Athena, patron goddess of the city of Athens, to whom she gave the olive as her gift. She planted the first one on the Akropolis. There is in fact an olive there today, next to the Erechtheion, the temple dedicated to Athena and her uncle Poseidon, who lost to his niece the contest to become guardian of the city.
When the Athenians returned to their city after its destruction by the Persians, the Akropolis olive tree already had a green shoot, symbolising the recovery and transformation of Athens and her citizens.
The olive appears on the famous Athenian owl coin, and is a recurrent motif in ancient Greek art, whenever Athena is depicted. Nike, the goddess of Victory, and closely associated with Athena, is often depicted with an olive wreath, which she would place on the head of a victorious athlete.
An olive wreath was the prize for Olympic victors, and Herakles' club was made from the wood of an olive tree.